The North Carolina Collaboratory, announced a new partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific to assist them with advancing PFAS research in North Carolina. As part of the partnership, the North Carolina Collaboratory purchased 5 new mass spectrometers that will allow them to continue being at the forefront of PFAS research nationwide.
The Collaboratory is dedicated to advancing PFAS research to aid in policymaking decisions throughout North Carolina. Their research provides communities throughout the state with real-time results to help identify and develop remediation strategies for PFAS contamination.
PFAS are a class of chemicals commonly dubbed "forever chemicals" thanks to their environmental persistence and widespread use in industrial and consumer products. Their persistence has led to widespread water, soil, and air contamination, leading to increased global concern around their potential adverse effects on human health.
To address this concern, North Carolina passed the Water Safety Act as part of their 2018 budget, providing five million dollars to establish the NC PFAS Testing Network (PFAST Network). The network includes researchers from 8 campuses who study various aspects of PFAS from toxicology to environmental impacts and remediation. As of July 1st, 2024 funding from the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) for PFAS research will surpass $50 million, representing the largest legislative funding commitment for PFAS research nationwide.
“Through generous recurring appropriations from the General Assembly, we have secured forever funding for ‘forever chemicals.’ The next step is continuing to learn about and research these compounds, such that new, innovative solutions can be developed to safeguard communities and ecosystems in our State and across the country. In addition, researchers are continuing to provide robust datasets and analyses to inform policymakers and State agencies to better understand this extremely complicated issue,” said Jeff Warren, executive director of the NC Collaboratory.
The instruments purchased as part of the Thermo Fisher partnership include a Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer, Orbitrap Exploris GC systems, Orbitrap Exploris 240 Isotope Solutions system, and an iCAP-TQ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
“These instruments collectively provide a holistic suite of unique capabilities to the PFAST Network, unmatched by any other vendor,” said Lee Ferguson, a PFAST Network investigator. “The continued partnership between Thermo Fisher Scientific and the PFAST Network will allow for close collaboration between scientists from both organizations, maximizing the utility of these new technologies in protecting North Carolina from impacts of PFAS exposure.”
The acquisition of these instruments will propel not only the NC PFAST Network but also the state of North Carolina, to the forefront of global PFAS research. "The North Carolina PFAST Network is setting the standard for PFAS research nationwide, and we take great pride in the role our instruments play in supporting their endeavors towards a healthier, cleaner and safer world,” said Dan Shine, senior vice president and president, Analytical Instruments at Thermo Fisher Scientific.